Sam Williams (basketball, born 1924)

Walter "Sam" Williams (June 29, 1924 – October 15, 2012)[1] was an American college basketball coach. He is considered an early pioneer of racial integration in the college game[2] and is the University of Texas–Pan American's all-time leader in wins (244),[3] including its only men's basketball national championship in 1962–63.[2] Williams is referred to as the "Father of Broncs Basketball" at Texas Pan–American.[1] He oversaw the school's transition from a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program into a NCAA Division I program.[1] During his 15 year tenure, he had 11 winning seasons, 4 20-win seasons, and 244 total victories. He also coached the baseball team for one season.

Sam Williams
Biographical details
Born(1924-06-29)June 29, 1924
Daingerfield, Texas
DiedOctober 15, 2012(2012-10-15) (aged 88)
McAllen, Texas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
195?–1958McAllen HS
1958–1973Pan American
Baseball
1961Pan American
Head coaching record
Overall244–164 (college basketball)
7–16 (college baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Basketball
NAIA National championship (1963)
Awards
  • NAIA National Coach of the Year (1964)
  • UTPA Hall of Fame (2007)
  • Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame

The UTPA Fieldhouse, where the team plays their home games, had its center court rededicated to Williams on November 20, 2010.[2] He was also named head coach emeritus, becoming just the second former coach at Texas Pan–American to earn that honor (baseball coach Al Ogletree was the first).[2]

Williams died on October 15, 2012, from natural causes.[1]

Head coaching record

Basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Pan American Broncs (Big State Conference) (1958–1962)
1958–59 Texas Pan-American 12–113–5
1959–60 Texas Pan-American 17–93–5
1960–61 Texas Pan-American 15–165–3
1961–62 Texas Pan-American 24–69–1NAIA Second Round
Texas–Pan American Broncs (Independent) (1962–1973)
1962–63 Texas-Pan American 25–6NAIA Champions
1963–64 Texas-Pan American 28–6NAIA Runner-up
1964–65 Texas-Pan American 19–7
1965–66 Texas-Pan American 15–12
1966–67 Texas-Pan American 15–9
1967–68 Texas-Pan American 21–6NCAA Division II Second Round
1968–69 Texas-Pan American 9–16
1969–70 Texas-Pan American 8–16
1970–71 Texas-Pan American 13–3
1971–72 Texas-Pan American 17–7
1972–73 Texas-Pan American 4–22
Texas Pan American: 244–16024–12
Total:244-160

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Baseball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Pan American Broncs (Independent) (1961–1961)
1961 Pan American 7–16
Total:7–16

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References
  1. "Walter Sam Williams obituary". The Monitor. Legacy.com. October 25, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  2. UTPA Athletics Media Relations (November 22, 2010). "UTPA rededicates Sam Williams Court, Williams named Head Coach Emeritus". University of Texas–Pan American. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. "UTPA Mourns Passing of Sam Williams". UTPAbroncs.com. University of Texas–Pan American. October 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
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